As
the music sets the catwalk in motion, Ralph Lauren models appear
with his latest collection. This time it goes beyond his trademark
Hamptons/neo-British image. His models are strolling elegantly
above the crowd in conical hats and long silk tunics slit from
the waist down, worn over wide pants. With such a look, it was
clear that designer Ralph Lauren had fallen under the spell of
the beautiful Vietnamese ao dai.

That
was a few seasons past, and the fashion world moves on to new
trends to satisfy fickle consumers. However, in Viet Nam and in
Vietnamese communities worldwide, the ao dai enjoys a revival
that will unlikely fade with the seasons. Its renewed popularity
marks a resurgence of cultural ties. A younger generation of Vietnamese
are discovering its charm. Yet few question its origins. Even
among cultural historians, only a small number have placed importance
on the development of Vietnamese costume. Thus, documentation
on the topic is rare and often vague.